And by 102, we mean 102,400 ISO. So you just about shoot in the dark.
Crazy right?
Yep, crazy like a fox!
Remember when the D3s came out and we shot in the dark? Pretty Much, anyway? An ISO that high was not a cheap proposition.
Well, they’re doing it again, those Nikon folks,this time in a smaller, much more affordable package. Plus a new stereo mic that claims to get rid of the AF lens noise factor.

The Nikon D5100
The main body of the release (bold markings & italics are ours)

April 5, 2011- Today Nikon announced the new 16.2 megapixel Nikon D5100 digital SLR, designed for those ready to step up and be artistically expressive with a versatile camera. The Nikon D5100 digital SLR houses a host of new and innovative features aimed at giving photographers the tools to shatter creative constraints and tell stories with amazing image quality and stunning HD movies.

Designed to enhance the shooting experience, the Nikon D5100 includes an impressive new 3-inch, sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen and full 1080p HD movie recording with full-time autofocus. The 16.2 megapixel D5100 is also the first Nikon digital SLR to provide in-camera effects that can be applied to photos and movies, (like miniaturization, selective color) putting more tools of creative expression at the users fingertips.

The Vari-angle LCD screen makes it easy to compose and share great images. Displaying even the most subtle details with clarity, the super sharp LCD has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution with the ability to pivot 180 degrees horizontally and vertically.
(Manufacturers are finding out which swivel photogs really need and maybe even which ones have less chance of breaking off!)

To record photos in extreme lighting conditions or to produce movies with a gritty appearance, the new Night Vision mode calls upon Nikon’s pro digital SLR low-light technology to offer extreme low-light capability by enabling the camera to shoot up to a super-high 102,400 ISO.

In addition to the Effects mode, users can create photos with amazing tonal range by selecting the high dynamic range (HDR) function within the camera. With this selected, the D5100 will automatically bracket up to three exposure stops with two images in rapid succession to produce a finished photo with an amazing range of midtones and highlights that wouldn’t otherwise be possible in a single shot.

The remarkably wide ISO range of 100-6,400 (expandable to a staggering 25,600 ISO) allows photographers to shoot confidently in outdoor and indoor low-light situations, even handheld with low noise. In challenging lighting conditions such as when a subject is backlit, Nikon’s Active D-Lighting feature keeps shadows and highlights consistent for even exposures.

Create Full HD Movies

The Nikon D5100 captures full 1080p HD movies with full-time autofocus.Users can quickly switch focus modes to stay with the action through a variety of AF functions, including Face Priority which can track up to 35 human faces, Subject Tracking and normal or wide-area autofocus. To activate movie mode and Live View, a new switch is positioned on the top of the camera near the shutter button for improved ergonomics and easier access.

The D5100 digital SLR offers variable frame rates and resolutions, and can record 1080p at a cinema-like 24 frames per second (fps). Alternatively, for playback on HD devices, it can record at 30 fps or a web-friendly 720p at either 24 or 30 fps. All clips can record for up to 20 minutes in the AVC-HD H.264 codec. Once recorded, movie clips can be trimmed in the camera to save time in post-production. Whether utilizing a wireless or hot shoe-mounted microphone such as the new ME-1, sound can be recorded via the stereo microphone input for professional audio results. Captured movies can be easily shared via HDMI output, and controlled remotely with HDMI CEC compatibility.

Superior Image Quality

The 16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor is capable of capturing images that erupt with color, offering amazing sharpness and clarity to create images and full HD movies even in low-light conditions. Coupled with Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED 2 TM image-processing engine, images are brought to life with vivid colors and amazing contrast, accurate exposure and low noise levels resulting in brilliant image quality. The EXPEED 2 TM engine also drives the quick 11-point AF system on the D5100 to provide for rapid focus acquisition even on fast-moving subjects. When shooting action, split-second shutter response and four frames per second burst rate make sure no moment is missed, forever putting to rest the story of the one that got away.

Whether shooting lush wilderness landscapes or an urban skyline, theD5100 utilizes Nikons exclusive Scene Recognition System to analyze subject information from a database containing more than 30,000 images to optimize focus, exposure, i-TTL flash exposure and white balance. To assist in creating amazing imagery, the Scene Recognition System reads data from the 420-pixel 3D Color Matrix Meter RGB sensor that examines the scenes brightness and color data then optimizes the cameras performance prior to the actual exposure.

Nikon ME-1 microphone
To address the needs of the ever growing community of shooters abandoning their video cameras for the versatility of a digital SLR,Nikon now offers the ME-1 stereo microphone. Engineered specifically for a digital SLR, the new ME-1 microphone attaches to the hot shoe and has noise dampening components designed to minimize noise resulting from AF operation. The microphone also has a low-cut filter to reduce wind noise, not already blocked by the wind screen. Designed with digital SLR users in mind, the ME-1 also features a cable stop to keep the cable out of the way when using the camera, and reduce instances of noise from unintentional contact. Because it utilizes a standard 3.5mm stereo jack,the ME-1 is ideal for the D5100 and other Nikon HD movie capable digital SLRs such as the D3s, D300s, D7000 and the COOLPIX P7000.